Railroad-signal



(No Model.)

J. R. PARK. RAILROAD SIGNAL.

No.291,929. Patented JAn15,-1884.

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' Unitas STATES PATENT @PFMIE.

JAMES R. PARK, OF LA VERGNE, TENNESSEE.

RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

SPEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 9l,929, dated January 15, 1884. Application filed Julyo, 1853. (X0 model To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. PARK, of La Vergne, in the county of Rutherford and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in railroad-signals adapted more particularly for day use.

The movements of trains are ordinarily controlled by telegraphic orders on line of road, and the telegraph operators on many roads, when required to stop a train for orders, have to do so with a flag held in the hand, or placed in a conspicuous place where it can be seen. This is troublesome, inconvenient, and causes loss of time and exposure to the weather; and the object of my invention is to overcome these objections by providing mechanism whereby the operator is enabled to display the signal-flag without leaving his instrument or even arising from his seat, thereby enabling him to manipulate his instrument and display the flag at the same time, if necessary.

XVith these ends in view my invention consists in the parts and combinations of parts, as will be more fully explained and pointed out in the claims. I

The accompanying drawing represents my invention in side elevation, a part being in section.

S represents a shaft or rod provided at its outer end with a wooden drum, D, rigidly secured thereto, and at its vinner end with a pulley, P. The rod or shaft S is held in position by the bracket or braces B and O, the latter bracket, 0, being adapted to support the inner end of the shaft S. The pulley P is situated between the bracket 0 and the wall of the building, and turns with its face at right angles to another pulley, P, situated a short distance below the pulley P, and secured to the wall of the building. Another pulley, P is secured to the wall inside of the oflice, and an opening is formed through the wall of the building below the outer pulley and above the inner pulley for the passage of the operating-cord. This cord E can be simply passed over the pulley P, or can be wrapped once or twice around the same to prevent the possibility of its slipping thereon, and is provided at its end on the outside of the building with a comparatively large weight, WV, preferably of about two and a half pounds. The opposite end of the cord is passed under the pulley P and over the pulley P and is provided with a small weight, XV, adapted particularly to counterbalance the tendency of the slipping of the cord around the pulleys. The bracket or brace 13 is made and formed preferably from a single piece of metal, bent, as shown, and provided centrally with an opening, a, for the passage of the shaft S. The form of braces or brackets is notmaterial, and on some buildings, when parts thereof project sufficiently to support the shaft S, the braces can be dispensed with altogether.

I is a flag secured. to the drum D, and adapted to be wound thereon when not in use. This flag is weighted at its lower edge to hold the flag in position, and is protected by the metallic shield or roof R, which latter is rigidly secured to the metallic bar Q. The

inner end of the bar Q is bent upwardly at an angle to the body portion to correspond to the inclination of the upper arm of the brace or bracket B, to which it is secured. The shield or roof R protects the flag from the weather when the latter is wound around the drum, and also hides the flag from view when not desired for use.

E are screw eyes or staples screwed or driven into the wall of the building for the purpose of limiting the movement of the weights, and also for holding the cord in proper position.

F is a ring or hook secured to the smaller weight, or to the operating-cord above or below the weight, and adapted to be hooked over the pin G when it is desired to hold the flag within theshield B.

If desirable, the two small pulleys P and P can be dispensed with by running the shaft S through the wall of the building and supporting it by suitable braces.

lVhen it is desired to wind the flag on the drum D, the weight W is drawn downwardly and the ring F hooked onto the pin G. By

lowering the weight W the cord to which it is attached moves on the pulley P and turns the shaft S, which winds up the flag.

\Vhen it is desired to expose the flag to view, the ring F is simply withdrawn from the pin G and then released, when the weight W, which is heavier than the weight W, descends and turns the shafts in the opposite direction.

By the employment of the improved signal above described the operator is enabled to display a flag instantly. without leaving his seat at the telegraph-instrument, or without interrupting or stopping a message.

This device is exceedingly simple in construction, is durable and effective in use, and is readily operated.

It is evident that slight changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be resorted to without'departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider myself at liberty to makesuch changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

1. The combination, with the supportingbrackets, of the shaft extending outside of said brackets, said extension provided with a drum or roller to which is secured a flag, and a shield located over the drum and secured at one end to the brackets, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the shaft, supporting-brackets, the drum, and flag, of the pulleys, cords, and weights, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the shaft, drum, and flag, of the braces and bracket and cords for winding and unwinding the flag, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

C. W. PATTERSON, J. O. GooDLoE. 

